Tens of thousands rally in Serbia for antigovernment demonstrations

Key Points:

• Tens of thousands of protesters, led by university students, rallied in Belgrade demanding early elections and a transparent investigation into the Novi Sad rail disaster that killed 16 people in November 2024, which led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.
• President Aleksandar Vucic has resisted the protests, but indicated elections could be held between September and November 2025 amid growing public pressure and widespread demonstrations.
• Clashes occurred between protesters and police near the presidency building, with police using teargas and stun grenades to disperse crowds, while Vucic’s supporters have maintained a presence in the city since March 2024.
• The protests enjoy broad public support as an anti-government movement, though critics note the lack of a unified political platform or leader to effectively challenge Vucic’s administration.
• Serbia’s democratic backsliding under Vucic risks losing about €1.5 billion in EU funding, complicating its EU accession ambitions, while authorities have intensified rhetoric branding protesters as terrorists and foreign agents, escalating political polarization.